Raw Wrestling ( WWE RAW ) is a sports entertainment program for World Wrestling Entertainment, currently airing on the States Network. The RAW trademark is also the brand WWE performers and employees are allotted to. SmackDown and ECW are other WWE programs and brands.

On January 11, 1993, RAW aired on USA Network for the 1st time in America. For the subsequent seven years it remained with USA Network till it was moved to TNN or Spike TV in two thousand. The show moved back to USA Network in 2005 and continues displaying on Mon. nights, making it a Mon. night habit since 1993. Its long history and focus on pay-per-views, makes RAW the flagship program for WWE.

Wars on Mon. Night

1995 saw the launch of Mon. Nitro, a new weekly live wrestling show on TNT from World Championship Wrestling. On September 11, 1995, RAW and Nitro squared off for the 1st time. With taped shows, RAW faced some challenges competing with a weekly live show. Eric Bischoff, WCW VP recognized the advantage of a live broadcast as he would give away results of RAW’s taped shows on many occasions. The web was also a source of information and results for fans, causing RAW ratings to say no.

WWE, which was then World Wrestling Federation (WWF), started displaying live every other week until September 1999. Ratings and pay-per-view sales grew and ultimately justified displaying a live show weekly.
The beginning of the ratings battle in 1995 to mid-1996 saw RAW and Nitro exchanging victories over the other. In mid-1996, WCW came out with major victories, with the NOW angle as a major factor, as Mon. Nitro enjoyed an eighty-four-week ratings winning streak, ending only on Apr 13, 1998.

Putting a stop to the Wars

September 25, 2000 saw RAW moving to TNN ( later known as Spike Television ) from USA network. However, the decline in WCW’s revenues forced Time Warner to sell the company to WWF in 2001. Nitro’s final episode aired on March 26, 2001. Vince McMahon kicked off the show with a statement on his recent acquisition of WCW and a simulcast on RAW and TNN concluded the telecast with Vince’s son Shane appearing on Nitro to explain that it was he who actually owned WCW thereby paving the way for WWF’s “Invasion” tagline.

RAW Wrestling’s War name and logo were retired due to people’s sensitivity for the word “War” after the 9/11 attacks.
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